中国古代司法修辞的合理性及启示

The Rationality of the Ancient Chinese Judicial Rhetoric and Its Enlightenment

修辞术的产生与司法活动紧密相关,修辞方法使用的领域、目标、言说背景与司法判决具有相通性,故中国古代判词中大量运用修辞有其必然性。立足于当时历史背景,古代判决运用修辞具有合理性,从表层看来有利于强化司法权威、促进听众理解、加大论证力度、实现合理判决;从深层看来有利于实现司法权威正当化、降低说服成本、促进社会和谐、形成"法官共同体"认同。对古代判词的修辞方法应批判地继承,借鉴其精华以提高现代判决书修辞水平,更好地促进现代司法文明进步。

The birth of rhetoric has close relationship with judicial activities.Intelligibility exists in the application fields,objectives,narrative backgrounds and judicial decisions across generations and cultures;therefore,it is possible for the modern people to understand why rhetorical devices were used in ancient Chinese judicial decisions.Its rationality lies in two aspects：superficially,it helped strengthen the judicial authority,promote public understanding,enhance argumentation,and realize grounded judgment;in depth,it helped enhance the judicial authority,lower the cost of propaganda,promote social harmony,and achieve the identity of Judge Community.A critical attitude should be adopted when it comes to the study of rhetorical devices used in ancient Chinese judicial decisions to help improve the modern rhetorical level in the process of making judicial decisions and civilization progress.